Green Top Virginia Fishing Report

Excellent catches are occurring right now inside the bay. Many folks are loading up on Red Drum, especially in the lower bay around the CBBT. Some are finding them along the surface, but most are catching them by fishing the bottom. Using live Spot, Croaker, cut Crab, and Mullet, are all good offerings. Some are jigging them up. A lot of Cobia are being caught along the bottom as well. Chumming is still a good means of drawing them in, then offering live eels or fish, closer to the boat. Another bottom fish being caught in good numbers, is the Sheepshead. Anchoring up close to hard cover, then presenting crabs on jigs, or dropper loop rigs, can be greatly productive. The pilings of the CBBT offer an abundance of cover, and current to keep the Sheepshead there, and active. There are a lot of trophy sized Sheeps being caught right now. Cut Blue Crab, or fiddlers are what most are using. Good Flounder catches are occurring on some lower bay structures, and the bridge tunnel now also. Since there is a good amount of Spot in the bay, and tributaries, using live Spot will often times catch the biggest Flounder. Jigging for them, and dragging Flounder rigs, is what many are used to doing to cover water, finding the sweet spots. There are plenty of Bluefish, and Spanish Mackerel to be caught still. A good deal of anglers are reporting better sized Bluefish, than in years past. The tributaries, and inlets of the bay are holding good numbers of Spot, especially the Rappahannock. The Whitestone area is traditionally a reliable area, and this season is no different. Bloodworms, lugworms, fishbites, and shrimp, are good baits to offer the Spot. Hard bottom areas are what the Spot like. Trout are mostly being caught inside the tributaries, among the shallower areas. Grass flats are desirable the the Trout. Topwater baits are fooling many of the bigger Trout. Speckled Trout fishing is excellent inside Pamlico Sound right now. Try popping corks to cover water quickly, and find aggressive fish. Topwater baits are good also. OBX surf fishing is yielding Pompano, Red Drum, Bluefish, and Sea Mullet. Flounder season opens September 15 along the OBX. Offshore fishing is producing Wahoo, Mahi, Black Fin Tuna, and bottom fish, like Triggerfish.

September can be a tough month on the freshwater side, no matter where the fishing is done. But some of the lakes are producing better catches now, over the last few weeks. Kerr Lake is one example, where the 2 day total was 31-10 this past weekend. So hopefully the catches improve. Some of the participants reported catching their fish out slightly deeper, in the 12-17 foot range, while some were able to find schooling fish. Baitfish are on the move, and Bass will often move with them, stopping at ambush points, such as stumps, and brush. Points and humps can sometimes provide the necessary hiding areas needed to ambush their prey. Bass will also target Bluegills using cover such as stumps. Crappie are very much the same way, usually targeting smaller bait, which is why brush can be so good, as they blend in well with the cover. This is the case in many bodies of water right now, whether it's the smaller lakes, or the larger ones. The upper James is low, despite the rain we've had. Hopefully, we will get more much needed rain. Even with the low water levels, the Smallmouth are biting, making more frequent trips to shallower areas. Topwater action can really explode during September. Try some of the bigger baits, making longer casts with the low water levels. Tidal river Bass are still holding to their summer haunts, with vegetation being what many of the Bass prefer. The James, and Chickahominy have grass, but not like the Potomac. The Potomac river has vast areas of aquatic grass, as it is a shallower river. Finding the Bass can be the challenge, but once found, there is usually a high number of fish to be caught. Cooler weather is right around the corner, and daylight hours are diminishing quickly. Going early may not always be the best time, as late afternoon/evening action can sometimes be better.

It's September, and many consider this the best saltwater fishing month of the year. The Spot bite is increasing in many places, and the sizes have been averaging bigger. The Whitestone area of the Rapp has been good, as have other places in the Rapp. Find hard bottom areas, and fish the bottom. Bloodworms usually work best, but they are not easy to obtain, especially good sized ones. The Hampton/Norfolk area has been good also. There's a good White Perch bite going inside the Rapp, down river from Tappahannock. We're seeing bigger sizes of Spanish Mackerel occurring from within the bay, and oceanfront. We're also seeing bigger Bluefish catches. Many folks are enjoying the many varieties of fish that are inhabiting the reefs and wrecks inside the bay. Tautog, Sheepshead, Bluefish, Red Drum, Cobia, and Flounder can be expected while bottom fishing these hard structures. The structures of the CBBT are holding the same varieties of fish. Live Spot work well for Drum, Cobia, and big Flounder. Catches of Red Drum are being caught all over the bay, with some reporting seeing the large schools on the surface, which many of us hope to find. Cobia catches continue to be high throughout the bay, but the bite is slowing down, as they are exiting the bay. The mouths of inlets, creeks, and rivers offer opportunities for multiple species also. These can be sometimes better for the smaller species, such as sea Mullet, Spot, and Croaker. Trout are often caught in these areas, especially the shallower areas with grass. Popping corks, topwaters, and 3-4 inch plastic swimbaits work well. September is usually the better month for the offshore fishing, particularly White Marlin. Other catches being made are Yellow Fin Tuna, Wahoo, and Mahi. Surf anglers along Va. Beach, Nags Head, and Hatteras, are reeling in Bluefish, Flounder, Red Drum, Sea Mullet, Pompano, and Sharks.

River levels are low, making the water very clear, and the fish a bit spooky on the upper James, and Rappahannock rivers. Take advantage of low light conditions early and late, with topwater baits, but sizing down is a good option with the low water. It can be easier to spot the deeper areas, but approach with caution, as the fish can become aware of approaching anglers. Making long casts can be the key to drawing strikes. Tidal waters fare a bit better, as the incoming tide tends to create a stain to the water. Shallow crankbaits tend to be very good on the James and Chickahominy, particularly around wood cover. The grass and lily pads remain a good option for Bass, and will hold fish well into the fall. The Potomac River continues to produce sizable limits of Bass, with grass patterns being the predominant bite. Grass frogs, punching mats with creature baits, and weightless senkos, are what many choose to search for Bass with. The weights are getting better on the lakes, but September is a transitional time, in which many of the Bass are one the move. Baitfish are starting their migrations to the cooler water, which is typically the backs of the creeks, and headwaters of the lake. Lipless crankbaits, and other fast moving baits can be great search tools now, as the flats in the backs of the creeks tend to have abundant cover, such as stumps. Shallow docks can be a good pattern now also. The Stripers tend to get in a bit of a funk this time of year, but those sticking with live bait are able to trigger the fish to bite. The better bite is still out deeper. Crappie are on the move also, but the more consistent bite is also deeper.

We're seeing better catches of Spot, and Croaker coming in from inside the bay, with the Rappahannock river being the better producer. The Spot action usually improves greatly during September. The Rapp and it's tributaries are also giving up strong catches of Redfish within the slot, along with Trout. Many tributaries of the bay are holding Redfish and Trout. The Hampton area for example, has been good. Larger Redfish are being caught inside the bay on structures like the CBBT, and some of the many artificial reefs on the main bay. Cobia are also being caught from these structures, as well being spotted while cruising just below the surface. Now is the time to check for Cobia holding below channel markers. Casting to these with bucktails can sometimes produce hookups. Hard structures are producing Sheepshead, Flounder, Tautog, and smaller species like Spot, Croaker, and Sea Mullet. The smaller species tend to bite better on bloodworms, shrimp, and fishbites. We've seen a surge in Flounder catches lately, mostly from bridge structures. Bluefish and Spanish Mackerel continue to bite well inside the bay, and along the oceanfront. Things in Hatteras are getting interesting with the hurricanes to the south. Folks are still catching fish, but conditions are changing. Typically though, the fishing usually picks up greatly, after a big storm.

Bass fishing has been tough on most bodies of water locally. Kerr Lake has been especially tough, as 14 lbs or less has been taking wins. The deeper bite has been more consistent, but the fish are moving quite a bit it seems. Anna has been faring a bit better, with 16+ lbs taking the wins. Those presenting live baits to the Stripers have been doing well in the early mornings before boat traffic gets heavy. Crappie are still deep, but the bridges are holding fish, and some of the deeper docks. Fishing on the tidal rivers has been right on par. The Potomac may be the better place right now, as 22+ lbs was the winning weight over the weekend. The abundance of grass in the Potomac suits the Bass very well. Punching grass mats, grass frogs,swimming worms, and jigs are taking fish. The Snakeheads are attacking these baits as well. These baits are fooling fish on the Chick, James, and Appomattox also. Crankbaits do very well on the James and it's tributaries just about all the time, but the summer months can often be the better time to throw them. Smaller, private lakes, offer excellent opportunities, as fishing pressure, and boat traffic can be significantly less. Still, the best time for the bigger fish is usually the first hour of daylight. Night fishing is a good option, but please be cautious, use navigation lights, and PFD's. Accidents can happen quickly, and unexpectedly.

Water temps in the bay are still in the eighties. Cobia are exiting the bay, but there are good fish available. Now is a good time to check channel markers, as they are good current breakers. Many of the artificial reefs are holding a variety of fish. Inhabitants of these reefs are, Cobia, Red Drum, Sheepshead, Flounder, and Tautog. They also harbor Sea Bass, Sea Mullet, Spot, and Croaker. Using the standard 1040 bottom rig, can present the opportunities for 2 at a time, especially Spot. The Spot are becoming thicker in many parts of the bay. The CBBT, like the reefs, harbors many species also. Some have been doing well for the Drum, fishing late evenings, and during the night, around the structures of the CBBT. Speckled Trout anglers continue to draw upon the inlets and bays for their quarry. Rivers and inlets, like the Piankatank and Rudee are holding good numbers of Puppy Drum, Spot, and Croaker. Lots of folks are still chasing Spanish Mackerel, with good success. Fishing for most of these species often increases in September. Offshore anglers can expect the White Marlin action to increase soon, and also the Wahoo. Surf action along the Va. and Carolina coasts, still consists of Puppy Drum, Sea Mullet, Spanish Mackerel, and Bluefish.

25 lbs was the winning weight from one of the tournaments along the James over the weekend. That's quite impressive for a 5 fish limit. The James, Appomattox, and Chickahominy rivers are capable of producing these weights any time of the year, but it's not common during August. The Potomac and Rapp continue to produce good bags of Bass right now. They are also yielding sizable Snakeheads. Anglers on the Rapp, are doing well for the Crappie also. Typically, the rivers offer better fishing over the lakes during the summer months, but occasional big weights come from some of the lakes. Lake Anna produced a 23 lb bag during a short evening tournament this week. 18 lbs was the 2nd place weight. Weights have been significantly lower at Kerr Lake, and other places. The Crappie fishing, and cat fishing have been better though, especially at night. Private ponds, and small lakes, can offer better, and easier fishing in the heat of summer, as they usually have less boat traffic. Covering different depths, and patterns is easier when the body of water is smaller. Early mornings with topwater baits will often yield the biggest fish of the day.

Lots of folks are enjoying the Spanish Mackerel action, that continues to be quite good. Some of the bigger ones are still being caught along the oceanfront. Inside the bay, anglers are finding them along the spans of bridges, bars at the mouths of rivers, along the drops of shoals,etc. Inside some of the rivers, anglers are hooking up with Puppy Drum, Spot, Croaker, Flounder, and Trout. Casting topwaters is a good tactic for locating the larger fish, such as Trout and Drum. Sizable Bluefish are being caught in many places inside the bay, from the bridge tunnel to the Potomac and above. Another species being caught in good numbers and size all over the bay, is the Sheepshead. Sheepshead like structure, such as pilings, rocks and rubble, like the cover provided by the many artificial reefs, and wrecks inside the bay. They also prefer crab, be it Blue Crab, or fiddlers. Cobia are still being caught in good numbers, by both sight casters, and bottom anglers. Live Croaker, and Spot are good for both methods, as are eels. There are Flounder being caught inside the bay, but the better Flounder are out in the ocean. The bite is much more consistent. A small surge of Spadefish are being reported along the CBBT, but most agree, the numbers are not high this year. Red and Black Drum are possibilities anywhere also, but the CBBT has been the better area. Those fishing at night, are having better luck with the Reds, using cut bait. Speckled Trout anglers continue to have luck inside the inlets and creeks, where shallow grass is abundant. Look for the Spot to start schooling up soon. Late August and September is usually the best times for loads of Spot. Bloodworms have always been best, but they can be difficult to obtain. Along the Nags Head and Hatteras surf, anglers are pulling in lots of Sharks, many of which are Sandbar sharks. Other catches include Sea Mullet, Pompano, Flounder, and Puppy Drum. The Drum bite is usually better at night. The ocean temp is around 83 degrees. Offshore boats are running into Yellow Fin Tuna, Wahoo, King Mackerel, Sailfish, and Blue Marlin.

Weights are pretty much down for daytime tournaments, both on the rivers and lakes. Evening tournaments that continue past dark are posting slightly better weights, even on 3-4 hour events. 13.70 lbs was the winning weight out of Hopewell this week. Bass in the James are being caught from a variety of cover, brush, grass, hard cover,etc. Smaller plastics tend to do better, along with smaller crankbaits and topwater baits. Subtle action baits like the senko are good anytime, and anywhere. Grass frogs are good anywhere also, particularly inside the Chickahominy, around the pads. The Potomac and Rappahannock rivers are fishing well now, as they too have an abundance of grass cover. Snakeheads are a popular species to target on these two rivers, and they will eat just about anything. The upper James is a bit low, but good fishing exists for both boaters, and wade anglers. The public ramps along the James get crowded quickly in the hot weather, as many take advantage of the resource to cool off, and enjoy the river. Striper fishing is good at Lake Anna, especially for those using live bait. The same goes for Kerr Lake, but the Stripes can be harder to find there , as Kerr is so much larger. Many prefer to troll plugs at Kerr. Anna Bass fishing picked up this week, as 17.11 lbs was the winning weight from this weeks Tuesday night tournament. 16.97 lbs was the winning weight on Sat, the 12th. The tournament weights from Kerr have been lower. Some are having good luck with the Crappie at night, on Kerr. Using submersible lights to draw in the baitfish, also draws in the Crappie. Many of the better Crappie are being caught from the main lake, but some of the larger creeks, such as Butcher's, have been good. Kerr is also known for giant Blue Cats, which has also been better at night. The upper portions of Kerr are where most of the anglers focus their efforts for the Cats.

Loads of Red Drum are being caught throughout the bay. Boaters are catching them during the day, and night, anchored up using cut bait, such as Spot and Croaker. Daytime anglers are also finding them schooled up on the surface, but they are hit and miss many times. Anglers along the beaches and piers are hooking up as well. The Elizabeth River is giving up good numbers of Drum, both in, and above the slot. Cobia continue to bite well also. The month of August is usually when we see them starting to exit the bay. This is also when they begin to relate to channel buoys. Chumming, and bottom fishing for the Cobia, remains productive. Sheepshead are active around the bridges and reef structures. Fiddler crabs and Blue crab are best for the Sheeps. Using either jigs, or dropper loop rigs, is the way most anglers present. Spanish Mackerel, and Bluefish are widespread in the bay, and along the oceanfront. Some have been caught from the Whitestone Bridge area. Bridges are good areas to target, as the abundance of cover is attractive to many species. Flounder, Spot, Croaker, Sheepshead, and Bluefish are some of the species available on many of the bridges in the tributaries of the bay. The James has several options to choose from, the HRBT, the MMBT, and the James River Bridge. Flounder are often caught along these areas, due to the abundance of rock structure, and plenty of bait. Many however, agree that the better, more consistent Flounder fishing, occurs out in the ocean, on deep water wrecks. Sea Bass will inhabit these same structures, and the season resumes August 9. Pier anglers in the lower bay, and along the ocean, are pulling in Spot, Mackerel, Bluefish, and as mentioned earlier, Drum. Trout searchers continue to find them in the tributaries mostly. Lynnhaven, Mobjack, the Piankatank, and tributaries of the Rapp, and James.

A lot of folks are taking advantage of the fishing opportunities presented by the James River. Inside the city limits, there are many points of access to enjoy. Inhabited by Smallmouth, Flathead Cats, Blue Cats, and various species of the Sunfish family, anglers have plenty to target. Gar are also prevalent in the James. The Rapp offers much of the same opportunities inside the city limits of Fredericksburg, and above. Topwater baits can be especially good, along with flukes, and finesse worms. The tidal James, Rapp, Potomac, and Chickahominy offer excepional opportunities for Largemouth during the height of summer. All of these have aquatic grass, vegetation and wood, providing shade, cover, and ambush points. The Potomac is probably best known as the premier grass fishery in Virginia. Wood cover is always an option, as with all tidal rivers, but the majority of Bass come from out of the grass. This week,19 lbs was the winning weight of a 4 hour evening tournament. Anglers are catching Bass from the main river, and inside the creeks. Baitfish will soon begin their migrations towards the backs of tributaries in many of our lakes. Sometimes, during these migrations, using a smaller bait will draw more strikes. This applies to all types of baits. Worms, crankbaits, spinnerbaits, etc. With topwaters, cadence can be as important as size. Bass will also remain deep, and respond well to jigging spoons, flutter spoons, and drop shot presentations. Crappie will also migrate with the baitfish. Brush piles in the mid depths of 10-17 feet will begin to produce bigger fish. Stripers will usually remain deep through September, and in to October. Trolling, and presenting live bait, will continue to produce better results for the Stripers. Jigging spoons are still producing keeper fish also. The smaller, horsepower restricted lakes can be an excellent option now, as there is typically only fishing vessels on the water. One such fishery, which is in the northern Va. area, is the Occoquan Reservior. 6 fish limits of 28-30 lbs are common, even in the heat of the summer.

The Sandbridge surf and pier has been good for Spot, Spanish Mackerel, and Blues. The Spot have been biting better on shrimp. Moving inside the bay, the CBBT continues to provide action for multiple species. Fishing at night has been more productive for the Red Drum around the islands. Cut bait, such as mullet, and crab, have been good. Sheepshead respond well to fiddlers around the pilings. Flounder are there, but more people seem to be targeting the Sheeps. Dragging Flounder rigs between the spans has been producing keeper Flounder, as has jigging the pilings, and the tips of the islands. Black Drum can usually be caught from the tips of the islands, where they drop sharply. Clam is good to use, as it also appeals to the Spadefish. Spadefish reports have been slow inside the bay, but the Ches. Light Tower is still yielding good catches. The mouth of the Rapp continues to be excellent for Spanish Mackerel. The mouths of other rivers are usually good as well, such as the York. Silver, and silver/green spoons have been working well. Big Kingfish, or Sea Mullet, are being caught inside the Rapp river. Hard structures up and down the bay, are holding Sheeps, Triggers, Flounder, and Tautog. Speckled Trout anglers are having good success inside the rivers around shallow grass. Redfish are being caught in these same areas, on the same lures/presentations. One such presentation, is the popping cork rig. Shrimp baits, paddle tail swim baits, and live minnows, are all good under the cork. Offshore anglers are finding plenty of Mahi, and Wahoo this week. Billfish, such as Sailfish, and Marlin, are biting well also. Deeper bottom fishing for Tilefish, and Grouper has been good.

A 5 fish, 22 lb limit was the winning weight from this past weekend's BFL tournament from the James River. A high 20 lbs was 2nd. A great example of Bass fishing from the tidal James, and Chickahominy. A big variety of lures are drawing strikes, as we are in the middle of summer. Good offerings are grass frogs, and other topwater lures, crankbaits, chatterbaits, and of course, soft plastics on Texas rigs, shaky heads, and drop shots. The tidal Potomac and Rappahannock rivers are also providing excellent opportunities for Bass, and Snakeheads. These rivers are also full of large Blue Cats. The upper Rapp has been excellent for Smallmouths, especially in hard to get to areas good for wading. The upper James is excellent as well. Lately, Bluegill swim baits have been popular for some, for the Smallies. Good catches of Bass, Crappie, and Bluegills are being made from local reservoirs, such as Swift Creek, Sandy River. Smaller, local ponds are always a great option for these species. The larger lakes can be tougher to navigate, and locate fish with all the boat traffic during the day, so many anglers prefer to go out at night, or for just a few hours of the morning. These are great times for the Stripers in the lakes that have them. Live bait is tough to beat no matter the time, but some have good success with jigging spoons. Good electronics are a key to locating the deeper schools of fish. Trolling is a method some prefer to employ for locating fish. Cordell redfins are good lures to use for this method. For Bass, large plastic worms Texas rigged can be hard to beat. As are large topwater baits, like the whopper plopper.

The hot weather has settled in, and folks are enjoying the many species associated with the summer season. At the top of the list, Cobia action is in full swing. Some Cobia anglers will start the day bottom fishing with chum while the sun is low, and switch to sight casting once the sun is high in the sky. An elevated tower is a great advantage for sight fishing. In either fishing situation, live eels are heavily used. Catches of large Sheepshead continue to occur in many parts of the bay. Artificial reefs, and bridge areas provide the hard cover that the Sheeps prefer. The HRBT, and the CBBT, are just 2 bridges that often produce Sheepshead. The same areas are usually good for Flounder during the dog days of summer. Good catches have been coming from the York River, Lynnhaven Inlet, the CBBT, and the many artificial reefs up and down the bay. Reports of Spadefish catches have been minimal, but they are available around hard cover, and the vertical cover of the bridge tunnel. They typically suspend, so finding the correct depth is key. Using clam chum usually increases the feeding activity of the Spades. The islands of the CBBT have been good for some sizable Red Drum lately, as they will randomly pop up for short periods. They can be quite spooky, so approach with stealth. Spanish Mackerel and Bluefish are another species being caught up and down the bay. Most folks will troll spoons behind in line sinkers, or diving planers, to achieve the strike zone. Cruising at 7 mph, or kph, will usually keep the Blues from biting, and the Mackerel committing to biting. Folks are also hooking up with good Mackerel from the lower bay and oceanfront piers. Gotcha plugs are what many choose to throw at the Mackerel, and Blues. Buckroe Pier has given up some nice Cobia lately.There's been good catches of Puppy Drum in many locations of the bay. The rivers and inlets are where most have been having their luck. They may be searching for Trout, but the Drum inhabit many of the same areas that the Trout do. Paddle tailed swimbaits will usually draw strikes from both, as will topwater baits. Popping corks are popular offerings also. The offshore action continues to be good for Mahi, Wahoo, Sailfish, Yellow Fin Tuna, and both Blue and White Marlin. OBX surf and pier anglers have been pulling up Spot, Croaker, Pompano, and Sea Mullet.

As with saltwater fishing, the freshwater species are in full summer patterns also. Tidal river fishing offers excellent opportunities for it's many species. Right now the upper James is up and muddy, causing changes in fish movement typically. Tidal portions aren't as greatly impacted as far as water color goes, but the velocity changes may have a greater impact. The pits can be a good option if the water is high and stained. The tidal Chickahominy rarely gets muddy, so this will sometimes be a better option. Grass beds are prevalent on the lower tidal James, and Chick. The Chick has many pad banks, and flats, as does parts of the Appomattox, and Rappahannock. With the heavy rains we've had, expect debris to be heavier for a few days. The Rapp is becoming popular as a Snakehead destination for many, much like the Potomac. The Potomac continues to yield quality catches of Bass from it's vast grass flats, and hard cover. We typically see lighter weights on the lakes during this time, as water temps are in the 80's. Topwater action is sporatic, so fishing deeper is a better option for many. This has been made much easier with forward facing sonar, no matter the species. Finding the fish is easier with this type of technology. Large schools of fish, such as Stripers, and Crappie, are easier to follow and present baits to at the proper depth. The live bait guides and anglers are having great success with the Stripers at Lake Anna. Some are having good luck with jigging spoons as well. Crappie have been caught from the shade and current of bridge areas on the lakes that have bridges. The smaller lakes don't usually have bridges, but the Crappie can be located by trolling small jigs of different colors, at various depths. Once found, many times they can be cast to, vertical jigged, or presented to with live bait. Slip floats work well in this situation.

Cobia fishing remains good up and down the bay. Early in the morning, many are chumming, and once the sun gets up good, many switch to sight fishing. Both methods usually involve eels. Live Croaker and Spot work very well also. Shallower water is typically better for chumming, while sight casting can occur anywhere, but is usually better in deeper water over structural elements. Schools of Red Drum can be encountered anywhere, just be on the look out, constantly. Many of the schools will contain hundreds of Reds together. Reports of Spadefish are low, but folks are catching them in many places inside the bay. Places like the bridge tunnel, and the Cell, are very popular. The bridge tunnel hosts many species, as some are passing through, while others are hanging out around the structure. One such species that hangs close to the pilings, is the Sheepshead. These fish are strong fighters, and can test equipment. They will suspend next to the pilings, and also inhabit the bottom. They are usually along the bottom when hanging around artificial reefs. Tautog will also inhabit the bottom on the reefs. They both like to eat crab. Trout and Redfish anglers are finding their quarry inside the Piankatank, Mobjack, the York, James, and Rappahannock. Both these species like grass. Find grass flats, and the fish are usually there. Topwater baits will draw them to strike early, and late in the day. Overcast days can cause them to strike surface lures all day, sometimes. Using plastics, such as paddle tailed swim baits on light jig heads can be effective in any depth. Using swim baits around hard cover, such as old pilings, will often times draw strikes from Flounder. Flounder are also being caught around deeper cover, like the bridge tunnel. Much heavier jigs are often needed for presenting to Flounder in the deeper, and faster water. Slack tide, and the beginning of incoming tide, can often be the best times to target Flounder around the pilings of the CBBT. Live Spot is another option known to draw the bigger Flounder. Spanish Mackerel and Bluefish are making themselves known in many locations inside the bay. Many anglers target them by trolling spoons behind in line weights, and diving planers. Pier anglers searching for Mackerel will often use jerk jiggers, or gotcha plugs. These are retrieved with a fast, erratic cadence. Spot and Croaker are being caught from some of the lower bay piers. Rudee Inlet has been giving up a few Spot also. Offshore fishing is very good right now, with many hookups with Blue Marlin, White Marlin, and Sailfish. There's been a good run for Yellow Fin Tuna in the last week. Mahi catches have been steady. The Nags Head and Hatteras surf and piers, have been productive lately, as anglers have been pulling in Sea Mullet, Spot, Bluefish, Flounder, and Croaker. Some large Pompano are also being caught right now. Inshore boats are having luck with Spanish Mackerel, Bluefish, Cobia, and Drum.

Summer patterns are definitely in play on our local waters. Tidal rivers are often the best bet, as the fish remain shallow, in the preferred current. Deep water has more current, causing the fish to expend more energy. Besides, shallow water provides more ambush opportunities for the game fish. Summer time Bass in tidal water will attack almost anything some days, but good standbys are shallow crankbaits, Texas rigged worms and creature baits, and shaky head presentations. Topwater baits are an excellent choice anytime, but especially on overcast days. Poppers and buzzbaits may be the most popular for this area, as are grass frogs. Anglers are still hauling in Bass with chatterbaits, and jigs however. Many of the rivers here have aquatic vegetation, that should not be overlooked, particularly on the Chick, and Potomac. Strong limits are still being brought to the scales, as 17 lbs was the winning weight from the James over the weekend. The upper James, and upper Rappahannock offer outstanding opportunities for Smallmouth. Topwater baits should always be considered, as should crawfish patterned crankbaits, and soft plastics crawled along the bottom. Shoreline grass beds offer excellent ambush points for aggressive fish. The larger lakes are quite crowded with boat traffic, but anglers are able to find fish early and late. Kerr Lake is easier on anglers sometimes, as it is so large, that it can spread out the boat traffic, offering more choices for anglers.. sometimes. Many of the Bass are being caught on deeper presentations, such as drop shot rigs, Carolina rigs, and large crankbaits. Some are finding Stripers out in deep water using jigging spoons, and live bait. This has been more productive in the early mornings. Crappie have been caught better in shady, cooler areas,such as marinas, and bridge areas. Plus, these are often no wake zones. Fishing at night has also been productive for the Crappie. Some are having good luck for Bass in smaller lakes and private ponds with large swim baits. Bluegill patterned swim baits have been excellent.

Fishing inside the bay is excellent right now, for many species. Cobia is probably the more sought after fish currently. Boats equipped with towers are having great success sight casting. Most will employ a live eel to the fish once in position. Live Croaker, and buck tails are a close second when casting to spotted fish. Some folks are trolling for the Cobia with larger spoons, and eel imitations. Some are having luck with live bait on floats, and free lining. Spadefish are gaining in popularity, since they have becomr more prevalent inside the bay. Hard structure, such as bridge pilings are ideal for the Spades, as they can suspend at preferred depths, according to the food source. Many anglers prefer to anchor up current, and present clam chunks, while chumming. Slip floats, or tight lining the clam, is what most do. Another popular species that is biting well, and will continue to do so, is the Sheepshead. These fish prefer hard cover also, and can often be found under schools of Spadefish, around the pilings of the CBBT. They also take up residence on hard cover, such as artificial reefs containing concrete rubble. Crab offerings usually work best for the Sheeps. Sizable catches of Flounder have been made in the last week. Many of the better Flounder are coming from the CBBT, but catches are also being made from reefs, such as Back River Reef. Vertical jigging with buck tails dressed with Gulp! trailers, or fresh fish strips, is a good method, as is drifting live bait, like Spot, or mud minnows. Keeper Flounder are also being caught from Lynnhaven Inlet,Rudee Inlet, and inside the rivers, like the Piankatank, and Rappahannock. Some are finding good numbers of Spot in the bay, and oceanfront. Trout anglers are having luck throughout the bay on topwater baits, popping corks, and 1/8- 3/8 jigs with Gulp!, and other soft plastics. Catches of large Red Drum are being made mostly at night, but large schools can sometimes be encountered during the day. These schools are much easier to spot from an elevated tower. Anglers are having excellent luck with the Spanish Mackerel in many places inside the bay, and along the oceanfront. Trolling spoons behind in line sinkers, and diving planers are the most common methods from a boat. Pier anglers typically use gotcha plugs, or heavy spoons. The offshore charters are finding Billfish, such as Blue Marlin, White Marlin, and Sailfish. They are also finding King Mackerel, Mahi, Wahoo, and Amberjack. Surf and pier anglers in the OBX are finding Pompano, Sea Mullet, Bluefish, Spanish Mackerel, and Spot. Those fishing in the sound can expect to find Speckled Trout, Red Drum, Houndfish, and Bluefish.

Hot weather is upon us, and many are turning more towards the tidal rivers, where there is current, combined with hard cover and vegetation. While fishing heavy vegetation, it's hard to beat a grass frog. It is also an exciting event when struck by the fish. All the tidal rivers are great choices, but some have vast areas of cover, such as the Potomac, and Chickahominy. Most all have submerged grass. The Rappahannock has become quite popular for the Snakehead anglers, whereas before, just the Potomac was where they were found. Bass are being caught from the main river, as well as inside the creeks. It's hard to beat Texas rigged plastics once the sun gets up, and the fish get tight to cover. Shallow crankbaits are a favorite of many also. Another great option for the rivers, is the upper James. Wading can be quite relaxing, and productive for the Smallmouth. Not having a boat is not a problem, especially inside the city limits. Just be smart, and wear a PFD. Stepping into a deep hole with current can happen at any time. With so many boaters on the waterways, many turn to the horsepower restricted lakes, for more peaceful fishing. Sandy River, Briery Creek, Swift Creek Reservoir, Little Creek Reservoir, and Diaschund Reservoir, are some of the choices we have locally. These smaller lakes offer excellent opportunities for Bass, Crappie, Chain Pickerel, Sunfish, and Catfish. In the larger lakes, the more consistent catches can often be found in deeper water. Creek and river channel drops, brush piles, rock piles, and deeper docks, are good specifics to key on. The larger lakes often have many bridge areas, which provide shade, current, and no wake zones. Be careful out there, the waterways are crowded.

Loads of Cobia are being caught inside the bay. It seems that there are more bigger fish being caught by those chumming, but the sight casters are doing well also. Both methods involve live eels, or baitfish, such as Croaker, or Spot. The mouths of the rivers are good places to target while chumming, as they typically have shallow bars, with a drop nearby. Cobia are being caught from the oceanfront to the mouth of the Potomac. Big Sheepshead are being caught from many places throughout the bay. Hard structures, like reefs, bridge pilings, and wrecks, are especially good. Many prefer to use crabs for bait, whether fiddlers,or cut blue crab.These areas and baits, are also catching Tautog, in which the season is closed right now, but re opens July 1. Some sizable Flounder were caught from the CBBT this week, along with some of the lower bay reefs. Vertical jigging with buck tails adorned with Gulp!, or fresh strip bait is what many are doing right now. Some are reporting Spadefish inside the bay, mainly at the bridge tunnel. July 4 is usually the time when the big Spades get caught around the bridge tunnel. The bridge tunnel has been good for some targeting Red Drum. Large schools have been encountered around the islands, and upward into the bay. Spanish Mackerel are showing up in a great deal of areas across the bay, and oceanfront. Va. Beach Pier, and Buckroe Pier have been good for the Mackerel. Other areas good for the Spanish have been York Spit, Windmill Bar, and Latimer Shoal. Anglers inside the York River, Rapp River, and Mobjack Bay, have been reeling in good varieties of fish, such as Flounder, Rockfish, Trout, and Drum. The Rapp has been giving up better reports of Spot and Croaker. The offshore boats out of Oregon Inlet,, and Hatteras, have been having spectacular action for many species. Billfish, Yellow Fin Tuna, Big Eye Tuna, and even a 600lb+ Blue Fin Tuna. Inshore boats are having good success with Spanish Mackerel, and Bluefish. Inside the sounds, anglers are having good luck with Speckled Trout, Puppy Drum, and some Sheephead around some of the bridges. Surf anglers are pulling in Sea Mullet, Pompano, Croaker, and an occasional Flounder.

The rivers came up, as a good bit of rain hit our area and upstream. Some of the tournament weights were down, as 12-13 lbs was the winning weight out of Hopewell, and 16 lbs was the winning weight out of Osbourne Landing.Some were having better luck with finesse presentations. The Chick also gave up smaller bags than expected. The Potomac River is giving up good catches, even after such a big tournament just a week ago. Once the levels calm down, the upper James will be in great shape for the Smallmouth. Summer patterns have emerged, with the fish using ledges, and drops toward the middle of the river. Early mornings, and late evenings can be quite good for topwater action. Some of the smaller lakes have been yielding big catches of Largemouth. Swift Creek Reservoir, and Sandy River Reservoir have been excellent places to target large Bass. They do not get the heavy boat traffic, as they are electric only and horsepower restricted. Early mornings have been good for Stripers at Lake Anna. Folks are hooking up with them with live bait, jigging spoons, and trolling Red Fin lures. Buggs Island was on the rise again, but fell slightly to 302.83'on Tuesday. With the higher level, some of the Bass move shallower, but many will stay out deeper, and make periodic moves to shallow or mid depth areas. Shoals can be ideal for Bass right now, especially those with rock structure, stumps or brush. Crappie are moving deeper also. Brush along main lake points and drops can be ideal. Deeper flats are overlooked by many, but can be very productive. Marina areas with deeper water are ideal also, as they provide shade, as do the bridges. Bridges also provide current, and bait.

Cobia season opened on the 15th, and quite a few catches were made. Many folks reported seeing a lot of fish on the surface cruising. Many are using eels to cast to the fish, once spotted. Live Spot, or Croaker work well also. Buck Tails are a good option too. From the mouth of the bay, to Windmill Pt., the Cobia are being caught. Also being caught in good numbers right now, are the Sheepshead. These fish have gained a lot of popularity in the last few years, due to their hard pull, and notable fight. Crab is usually best for targeting the Sheeps. Hard structure is what they prefer. We should be seeing catches of Spadefish inside the bay soon. Typically, around July 4, is when we start seeing the bigger fish. Flounder catches have increased in the last few days. The HRBT has been good for keepers, as has the MMBT, and some have found them at the CBBT. There's been a good run of Spanish Mackerel along the Va. Beach oceanfront, and pier. Gotcha plugs have been the most popular from the pier. Mackerel catches have been coming from within the bay also, such as Windmill Bar. Nice sized Bluefish are being caught from the islands of the CBBT, and some of the lower bay piers. Good sized Speckled Trout are being caught from the Pianatank River, Mobjack Bay, the Elizabeth River, and the Rappahannock River. Folks are having good luck with popping corks, topwater baits, and soft plastics on 1/4 ounce jig heads. There have been reports of Spot and Croaker from within the Rapp, around the Whitestone Bridge area. Along the Outer Banks, anglers are having good luck with the Trout inside Pamlico Sound, Currituck Sound. Also being caught from within the sounds, are Houndfish, Puppy Drum, and Bluefish. In the surf, catches of Sea Mullet, Flounder, Pompano, and Bluefish. The piers are producing the same, with occasional catches of Cobia, and Spanish Mackerel. The offshore fleet is reporting good luck with Yellow Fin Tuna, Mahi, Wahoo, Grouper, Big Eye Tuna, and good sized Billfish, such as Blue Marlin.

The MLF Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit visited the Potomac River over the weekend, and ended on Monday. The 3 day winning total was 53 lbs. Anglers reported catching Bass on chatterbaits, topwater baits, senkos, and jigs. There were a lot of limits caught throughout the tournament, as the grass is prevalent, and the Bass are healthy. 23 lbs was the winning weight during a 1 day event on the James River, out of Hopewell. 16 lbs was the 2nd place weight. Many of the same baits used on the Potomac, were successful on the James, Chick, and Appomattox Rivers. 16 lbs was the winning weight from the Chick, out of route 5 on Saturday. Another river worth mentioning is the South Anna River. Recently, Ben Kendrick of Hanover, took Avi, Lawson, and Mattise Body of Hanover to the South Anna, in which they caught over 50 fish floating down the river, which included Shellcrackers, Bluegill, Largemouth, and Smallmouth Bass, and Warmouth. A good time was had by all. Summer patterns are in full swing on many of the larger lakes in the area. Deeper structure like brush and rocks are what many are targeting for Bass at Anna, Kerr, Gaston, and Smith. Topwater baits have been excellent in the early mornings, and during low light conditions, such as overcast days, and sunset. Large swim baits have been taking some quality fish also. Stripers are biting well in the early morning hours on live bait, and Alabama rigs. The area between the 208 bridge, and the bridges just above the splits, has been productive. The bridge areas have been good for Crappie also. Some of the marinas on Kerr Lake are still holding good Crappie, along with deeper brush piles.

Keeper Flounder are being caught along the CBBT right now. This should continue as the summer season approaches. Keepers are also being caught inside Rudee Inlet, the Rappahannock river, and the James river around the HRBT. The Wachapreague area is still giving up keeper Flounder. Keeper Rockfish are being caught from inside many of the rivers, such as the Elizabeth, James, Rappahannock, and inside Mobjack Bay. Trout anglers are having good luck inside the Elizabeth, Rapp, Mobjack, and the Hampton/Va Beach area. Live Spot has been the key for large fish. Popping corks have been working well in many places. Large Red Drum have been caught from the Hampton area also, along with the area of the CBBT. Reports of Cobia are trickling in from the Va Beach area, Ocean View Pier, and Buckroe Pier. Bluefish and Spanish Mackerel are being caught from the Va. Beach Pier and surf. Large Spadefish are being caught from the Ches. Light Tower, so very soon, we should see catches occurring from within the bay, such as the bridge tunnel. The Nags Head/Hatteras area has been good for Trout. Both the surf and sound have been producing Trout, with the better Trout coming from the sounds. Spanish Mackerel and Bluefish are also being caught right now, as are Red Drum. Surf anglers are hooking up with Sea Mullet,Black Drum, Cobia, and Sharks. The offshore boats saw a rush of Blue Marlin caught the last few days. They are reporting Yellow Fin Tuna, Mahi, and Wahoo.

Some Bass are moving into their summer haunts, while many are still shallow to mid depths. Bluegill are still spawning, so many Bass are hanging around the Bluegill spawning areas. Topwater baits and senkos work well for this pattern, but it is falling away. The deeper Bass are responding to Texas rigged worms, Carolina rigged worms, drop shot rigs, and shakey head rigs. The topwater bite can be strong early in the day, and sometimes all day. Good surface baits right now are walking baits, whopper ploppers, and prop baits. 32 lbs was the winning 2 day weight at Anna over the weekend. Smith Mountain Lake was the hot spot, as 24 lbs was the winning weight there, for a one day tournament. The Stripers are responding well to live bait early in the day at Anna. The splits area is a good place to begin looking for the Stripers. Boat traffic is heavy every where, but especially on the smaller, narrow lakes like Anna. Many bridge areas are no wake zones, so fishing for Bass and Crappie can be easier in the places. They also provide current, shade, and usually,lots of baitfish. Crappie especially prefer these areas. Using slip floats with minnows at various depths to start off with, can pinpoint the depth in which to target the larger fish. Bass fishing on the James and Chick improved over the weekend, as 20 lbs was the winning weight there. Topwater action on tidal water is usually very good in early June. The vegetation is up, getting thicker, and provides food, shade, and ambush opportunities for gamefish. Many are targeting Snakeheads on the Rapp, and Potomac, as they can be very shallow and aggressive. Grass frogs will generally draw a lot of strikes from Snakeheads. The upper James can be excellent at this time, particularly places like Bosher's dam, and Williams dam. These dams provide oxygenated water, and ambush areas for the Smallmouth. Natural live baits, such as crawfish, small Sunfish, chubs, and hellgramites are excellent in the situations.

As we enter June, expect to see a bigger variety of species available inside the bay. Cobia are starting to make a showing along the coast, and just inside the bay. Many of the bigger fish get caught by those chumming, while anchored up close to shallow areas. Using plenty of chum is a big key to success, often times. Using live bait, such as eels, live Spot, or Croaker, is what many use while chumming. Beware though, sharks will be attracted to the chum scent also. Schools of Red Drum are being encountered inside the bay now. These fish are a great deal of fun, as all on board can be hooked up at once, creating pleasurable havoc! 1-3 ounce buck tails are usually all that is needed to get hooked up. Be sure to have your tackle in tip top condition, as the Drum, and Cobia will test your equipment. There are reports of Spadefish being caught from Ches. Light Tower, just a few miles out from Va. Beach. Soon they will arrive at the CBBT, and other bay structures, such as the Cell, and Wolf Trap Light. Fresh bits of clam is what is often used for the Spades. Many times the Sheepshead will be just under the Spadefish, hanging around the pilings of the bridges. The Sheeps like crab, but can be caught on clam also. Speckled Trout catches are increasing greatly throughout the bay. The lower bay inlets, as well as inlets to the north are holding Trout. Some are catching them on topwater baits. Other good presentations are popping corks, 1/8-3/8 ounce jigs with paddle tails, and live and cut bait, such as crab, or mullet. Flounder continue to be caught along the seaside of the Eastern Shore, especially in the Wachapreague area. Many folks like to drag minnow/squid combos for the Flounder. Spanish Mackerel catches are increasing along the oceanfront, and will soon be occurring heavier inside the bay. The surf and sounds around Nags Head and Hatteras are giving up Trout, Red Drum, Sea Mullet, Bluefish, and Spanish Mackerel. The weather has not been conducive for offshore action, so there has not been many reports lately.

Spawning Bluegills and Shellcrackers are prevalent in many bodies of water right now. They can be aggressive, fun to catch, and they are excellent table fare. Crappie are schooling up again and heading for their summer haunts, which include brush piles, and bridge pilings. Some have better luck fishing for them at night in the bigger lakes, like Kerr. Using a submersible light will many times attract the bait, which in turn attracts the Crappie, and other gamefish. Results from a two day Bass tournament on Kerr, was 32 lbs, which is an improvement overall, and encouraging. Reportedly, they caught fish on topwaters, swing head jigs, and shakey heads. 20lbs was the winning weight from Anna on Saturday. No report from the winners, but fish are being caught from both deep, and shallow. Striper fishing remains good at Anna, especially those presenting live bait. Free lines and down lines are how many are being caught. Bass fishing has been good at Chesdin this past week, as the grass is holding many quality Bass. 18 lbs was the winning weight from the Potomac on Saturday. The fishing was tough for many this week. The Potomac gets a lot of boats in small areas, making it tough later in the day. Reports from the James and Chick are good for the Bass, as anglers are reporting catching fish from the pads, grass, and wood cover. The Pamunkey River fished well over the weekend, as 17 lbs was the winning weight. The upper James is a bit low. The Smallmouth are coming off the spawn, and attacking topwater baits. Overcast conditions are ideal at this time, as the bite can be productive all day.

Rockfish are being caught in many of the tributaries of the bay, and some along the ocean surf. A few good ares have been the Great Wicomico, the Piankatank, the Rappahannock, the York, the Elizabeth River, and the Hampton area. Fresh cut bait, such as mullet, is working well. These areas are holding Red Drum, and Speckled Trout also. Areas of the Eastern Shore are producing some nice Trout also. Big Red Drum have been showing up near the south end of the Eastern Shore, along with some Sheepshead. The Sheepshead are being caught around the CBBT structures now also. Artificial reefs inside the bay are holding Sheeps as well. Rudee Inlet has been yielding Puppy Drum, and Flounder. Flounder reports from the CBBT have been slow, but there are some being caught. Some large Bluefish are being caught along the Va. Beach oceanfront, and look for the Spanish Mackerel catches to greatly increase very soon. Gotcha plugs and spoons are good lures for the Blues and Spanish, as they are made of metal, and lead, withstanding the teeth of these two species. We usually see the large schools of Red Drum invading the bay towards the end of May, and early June. There are some scattered catches of Croaker throughout the bay, but they are small. However, they make good live bait presentations for Drum, and Cobia. We typically see the Cobia starting to invade the bay at this time. Chumming in shallow water is a good early season tactic for large Cobia. Beware of sharks though, as the chum slick will attract them too. Trout fishing is increasing greatly along the Nags Head and Hatteras surf, and inside the sounds of Currituck, and Pamlico. The surf and sounds are also producing Puppy Drum, Bluefish, Sea Mullet, and Spanish Mackerel. Offshore boats are returning with Mahi, Yellow Fin Tuna, and Wahoo. There have been Blue Marlin releases also.

Spawning Bluegills and Shellcrackers are prevalent in many bodies of water right now. They can be aggressive, fun to catch, and they are excellent table fare. Crappie are schooling up again and heading for their summer haunts, which include brush piles, and bridge pilings. Some have better luck fishing for them at night in the bigger lakes, like Kerr. Using a submersible light will many times attract the bait, which in turn attracts the Crappie, and other gamefish. Results from a two day Bass tournament on Kerr, was 32 lbs, which is an improvement overall, and encouraging. Reportedly, they caught fish on topwaters, swing head jigs, and shakey heads. 20lbs was the winning weight from Anna on Saturday. No report from the winners, but fish are being caught from both deep, and shallow. Striper fishing remains good at Anna, especially those presenting live bait. Free lines and down lines are how many are being caught. Bass fishing has been good at Chesdin this past week, as the grass is holding many quality Bass. 18 lbs was the winning weight from the Potomac on Saturday. The fishing was tough for many this week. The Potomac gets a lot of boats in small areas, making it tough later in the day. Reports from the James and Chick are good for the Bass, as anglers are reporting catching fish from the pads, grass, and wood cover. The Pamunkey River fished well over the weekend, as 17 lbs was the winning weight. The upper James is a bit low. The Smallmouth are coming off the spawn, and attacking topwater baits. Overcast conditions are ideal at this time, as the bite can be productive all day.

The big Red Drum are making a good showing inside the bay this week. Anglers are having good luck fishing along the bottom with cut mullet, crab, and fresh clam. Some notable catches have been made in the vicinity of the bridge tunnel, and in the Windmill Point area of the Rappahannock River. Black Drum are also being caught inside the bay, but also on the seaside of the Eastern Shore. Nice Rockfish are being caught in various places inside the bay, and along the surf of Va. Beach, and the Eastern Shore. Fresh cut bait is working for the Rockfish too. Speckled Trout catches continue to increase in many areas of the bay. The Hampton area, Mobjack Bay, the Piankatank River, and Lynnhaven Inlet. Catches of Trout are occurring along the Va. Beach surf, and from inside Rudee Inlet. Puppy Drum are being caught from within Rudee also. Reports of Sheepshead slowed this week, but they haven't gone anywhere. They are settling in on structures inside the bay, such as artificial reefs, and the bridge tunnel. Flounder reports have also been light this week. We usually see larger catches occurring inside the bay around early June. Flounder fishing has been down for many anglers inside the bay in the last few years. There were some Spanish Mackerel catches reported from the Va. Beach area recently, but they too have slowed to be reported. June is when we see the catches of Macs become more widespread. The Hatteras surf is yielding catches of Spanish Mackerel,Red Drum, Sea Mullet, and good sized Bluefish. Pamlico Sound continues to improve in catches of Trout, and Drum. Inshore anglers along Nags Head and Hatteras are running in to Cobia, Spanish Mackerel, and Sheepshead. The offshore charters are returning with Mahi, and some Wahoo. There have been some Blue Marlin releases this week.

A lot of attention has been put on Kerr Lake recently. The Bassmaster Open finished up on Friday, the 5th. There was an MLF event on Saturday, and a 2 day Bass Nation event. Fishing was tough for most. 48-13 was the 3 day total for the winner of the Bassmaster Open. 19 lbs was the winning weight for the 1 day MLF event, and 29 lbs was the 2 day total for the Bass Nation event. The most common lure mentioned was by far, the spinnerbait. Anglers also reported landing fish on flukes, senkos, and topwaters. The Shad spawn is occurring throughout the lake, but most agree that it is not wide open yet. This weekend should prove interesting for the Bass, and the Shad spawn there, as there is another MLF event on Saturday. Some nice Crappie are being caught in the areas of the Shad spawn, which may be the best bet for the better Crappie. Rocky areas, such as bridge rip rap is very good. Kerr Lake Stripers are making their spawning runs up the main tributaries. They travel far above the actual lake itself, so follow the rivers above the lake for access points, if searching for the Stripers. 19 lbs was the winning weight at Anna over the weekend. Much of the Bass population have finished spawning, but there are some left still to spawn. Post spawn patterns are prevalent, especially down lake, where topwater action is coming alive. But Bass are coming from many depths right now. 17 lbs was the winning weight on the James River over the weekend. Bass there are in spawning mode as well as post spawn mode. Spinnerbaits are top producers on the rivers now also. As are chatterbaits, soft plastics, and topwater baits. 18 lbs was the winning weight on the Potomac River over the weekend. Grass beds are where most are focusing their efforts. Hard cover is also holding Bass. Expect the Bluegill spawn to ignite in many of the bodies of water in our area. Smaller bodies of water warm quicker, so we may see them already in small ponds.

There are reports of big Bluefish, Speckled Trout, and some Spanish Mackerel, being caught at Va. Beach, from both the piers, and the surf. Blues, Drum, and Trout are also being caught inside Rudee Inlet. Trout and Puppy Drum are also being caught from within Lynnhaven Inlet. Nice Flounder are being caught shallow, but locations are not being revealed. The seaside of the Eastern Shore is where much of the shallow, inshore Flounder fishing takes place. Black Drum, and Red Drum are also being caught in good numbers and size along the shallows of the Eastern Shore. Folks are having the best luck with Crabs. Crabs are what's being used to catch some big Sheepshead, and Tautog, inside the bay, around the CBBT area. But the season for Togs closes May 16. Speckled Trout catches are increasing in numerous places throughout the bay. Traditional areas are Mobjack Bay, the Piankatank River, the Elizabeth River, and inside the Rappahannock River. Topwater baits are coming into play for the Trout. These areas are producing Puppy Drum as well. Now is when we typically see catches of Croaker, but reports have been minimal. Along the Hatteras and Nags Head surf, anglers are hooking up with Bluefish, Red Drum, Sea Mullet, Pompano, and Spanish Mackerel. Inshore boats there are reporting Red Drum, Bluefish, Sheepshead, and Spanish Mackerel. The offshore boats are reporting Mahi,Wahoo, Yellow Fin Tuna, and some Blue Marlin releases.

A lot of attention has been put on Kerr Lake recently. The Bassmaster Open finished up on Friday, the 5th. There was an MLF event on Saturday, and a 2 day Bass Nation event. Fishing was tough for most. 48-13 was the 3 day total for the winner of the Bassmaster Open. 19 lbs was the winning weight for the 1 day MLF event, and 29 lbs was the 2 day total for the Bass Nation event. The most common lure mentioned was by far, the spinnerbait. Anglers also reported landing fish on flukes, senkos, and topwaters. The Shad spawn is occurring throughout the lake, but most agree that it is not wide open yet. This weekend should prove interesting for the Bass, and the Shad spawn there, as there is another MLF event on Saturday. Some nice Crappie are being caught in the areas of the Shad spawn, which may be the best bet for the better Crappie. Rocky areas, such as bridge rip rap is very good. Kerr Lake Stripers are making their spawning runs up the main tributaries. They travel far above the actual lake itself, so follow the rivers above the lake for access points, if searching for the Stripers. 19 lbs was the winning weight at Anna over the weekend. Much of the Bass population have finished spawning, but there are some left still to spawn. Post spawn patterns are prevalent, especially down lake, where topwater action is coming alive. But Bass are coming from many depths right now. 17 lbs was the winning weight on the James River over the weekend. Bass there are in spawning mode as well as post spawn mode. Spinnerbaits are top producers on the rivers now also. As are chatterbaits, soft plastics, and topwater baits. 18 lbs was the winning weight on the Potomac River over the weekend. Grass beds are where most are focusing their efforts. Hard cover is also holding Bass. Expect the Bluegill spawn to ignite in many of the bodies of water in our area. Smaller bodies of water warm quicker, so we may see them already in small ponds.

Lots of Puppy Drum are being caught in many areas along,and near the coast. Both lures and bait are working well, as many of the fish are shallow. Some of the more popular areas have been Lynnhaven Inlet, the Piankatank River, the Hampton area, Rudee Inlet, and along the oceanfront. These same places have been good for Speckled Trout also, but the Drum bite has been better. Big Sheepshead are being caught from the CBBT area, with some as large as 15 lbs. Crab is the bait of choice. The spring Rockfish season for the bay and its tributaries, is open May 16- June 15. The minimum size is 20 inches, and the maximum size is 28 inches. The daily limit is one per person.The coastal Rockfish season also opens on May 16, but is open through Dec 31. The minimum size is 28 inches, and the maximum size is 36 inches. The daily limit is also one per person. Big Tautog are being caught from ocean wrecks right now, but the season closes May 16 through June 30. Some of the piers are reporting catches of Drum, Trout, and small Croaker. The Black Drum bite has been getting better on the east side of the lower bay, and on the seaside of the Eastern Shore. Reds are being caught there also. Crab and clam are what many are using. Surf anglers along Hatteras are reeling in Red Drum, Speckled Trout, and Sea Mullet. Some claim to be catching Cobia already. There has not been much to report from the offshore charters. The weather has not been ideal.

The cooler weather has had an impact on the freshwater side over the last week. Good weights have been brought to the scales, but this has not been widespread. Many areas have the Bass in post spawn, but there are still spawning fish. Kerr Lake has spawning Bass, and the level has risen this week, to where, currently it is 303.71'. The Bassmaster open starts on May 3rd, and ends May 5th on Kerr Lake. Fishing flooded bushes is what many will be doing with the water level being what it is. Smith Mountain Lake still has spawning Bass, but many have already spawned. Lake Anna is much the same way. The Bass are still shallow in many bodies of water. With the rising water at Kerr, the Stripers may be tough to catch. The James and Rapp have received quite a bit of rain, along with the Chick, but the Chick seldom gets muddy, so this may be the better choice for this week. The tidal rivers usually fish very well during May, as the Bass will often still be spawning, and aggressive. Spinnerbaits will often be the best option during this time, and is usually better in stained water. The Potomac has been fishing well also, but the river may be trashed with debris, so beware. Crappie fishing in smaller lakes and ponds is typically good in May. Look for the Bluegill spawn to occur soon, which is a fantastic time to find and catch them easier, as they can be quite aggressive also. Good baits are small minnows, worms, insect larvae, crickets, and small plastic grubs on 1/16 ounce jigs.

Black Drum have made a strong showing at the Eastern Shore this week, making quite a few anglers happy with their large catches. This bite will strengthen as we roll into May. May will also bring in the Reds. Using fresh clam or crabs, will draw the attention of both the Blacks, and Reds. Good catches of Puppy Drum have increased in several places inside the bay. The Piankatank River has been especially good for the Pups. Other places providing good action, has been Lynnhaven Inlet, and the Elizabeth River. The Speckled Trout action has strengthened also. Little Creek, Lynnhaven, Rudee Inlet, and the Hampton area are some of the hot spots. There hasn't been a lot reported about the Sheepshead, but the time is approaching for the bite to greatly increase. The same can be said for the Flounder. The shallows of the Eastern Shore is where the early season catches come from typically. Dragging minnow/squid combos are what many use in the early season. The Va Beach surf has been producing Red Drum, and Speckled Trout. The Hatteras and Nags Head surf has been producing Sea Mullet, Black Drum, Red Drum, and Sharks. The offshore bite has been Mahi, Black Fin Tuna, Wahoo, and King Mackerel.

In the lakes, many of the Bass, and Crappie, have spawned. There is definately a post spawn bite for the two. But the spawn is still taking place on some of the larger lakes, such as Kerr, and Smith Mountain. Look for the topwater bite to strengthen as we enter May. Weights have been down for Bass at Kerr, in which 14 lbs was the winning weight in one tournament over the weekend. Anna produced an 18 lb limit of Bass on Saturday. The Bass are still shallow, but scattered. Crappie are being caught from shallow to mid depths, with some being caught from the bridges already. Stripers are on the move at Kerr, making their spawning runs up the tributaries. The Walleyes can also be found up the tributaries of Kerr. A new lake record Hybrid Striper was aught from Anna last week, weighing over 14 lbs. That is a sizable Hybrid! The tidal rivers have the Bass spawning now. On the James, the pits are a popular place to find them. Cypress trees are a good place to find them on the Chickahominy, and the lower tidal James. Great Bass fishing is taking place on the Rappahannock river also. The Potomac is fishing very well right now. Look for the grass, as the majority of Bass will be spawning there. 19 lbs was the winning weight over the weekend. The upper James has the Smallmouth spawning as well. They can be harder to spot sometimes, with the current present. Some of the more aggressive fish will attack spinnerbaits, and buzzbaits. Look for the Sunfish species to spawn soon. Shellcrackers, Bluegills, and the various other Sunfish.

The surf and piers in the Va Beach area have been good for Drum and Speckled Trout. Many are still catching these fish inside the Elizabeth River, but catches have spread out. Lynnhaven has been better for the Drum, over the Trout. Little Creek has been giving up some nice Trout lately, so Lynnhaven should not be far behind. Rudee has been producing Drum, and a few Flounder. The Eastern Shore's seaside has been giving up a few Flounder also, but this should increase greatly with the warm weather upon us. The Black Drum bite is a bit behind for this time of year, but expect to see an increase in these catches very soon. Crabs are becoming much more plentiful, so the Drum are usually right there with them. Tautog are available inside the bay on many of the artificial reefs, along with the CBBT. Sheepshead will also inhabit these structures at this time. The Hatteras surf has been good for Drum, Sea Mullet, and Trout, in the last week. Some of the offshore boats have caught Wahoo, Mahi, and Black Fin Tuna.

The Shad, and White Perch in the tidal rivers are winding down, but there are still some to be caught. Both the James and the Rapp are producing catches. The Rapp is giving up quite a variety of fish lately. Anglers are reporting lots of Snakeheads, Crappie, Bass, Catfish, and still some Yellow Perch. Bass fishing on the James, Rapp, and Potomac, is still excellent, and should continue into May. The Chick is another tidal river that is giving up excellent catches of Bass right now. Common lures being used on all of the tidal rivers mentioned, are chatterbaits, spinnerbaits, topwater baits, lipless crankbaits, and soft plastics rigged various ways. The upper James is a little low, but the Smallmouth are cooperating. Crankbaits, spinnerbaits, and topwater baits, are a few of the baits bringing success. The lakes are fishing very well also, as the Bass are all three stages of the spawn. Crappie have been shallow on docks with grass, and or brush. They are also being caught on beaver huts right now. When the bite is tough, move out a little deeper on structure, as they too can be in the post spawn mode. Lake Anna produced 27 lb, 5 fish limit of Bass over the weekend, along with a 22 lb winning limit. Smith Mountain produced a 22 lb winning limit also. Gaston was a bit tougher, producing a 14 lb winning bag of Bass. Stripers are responding well to live bait presentations, especially when conditions are tough. Early and late, try a topwater bait, such as a walking bait.

We're not hearing of many catches of Black Drum yet, but this should change any day now. The Blacks usually show before the Red's, and early to mid April is when they typically show up inside the bay. As for the Red's, some larger one's have been caught along the oceanfront, along with Puppy Drum. There is plenty of Pup's being caught inside some of the rivers, and inlets. This is also the case with the Speckled Trout. Most of the reported Trout, are coming from within the Elizabeth River, and inlets like Little Creek. Some nice Togs are being caught from the bay bridge tunnel structures, near shore wrecks, and ocean wrecks. We should be seeing more catches of Sheepshead very soon also. Participation has been down , perhaps due to unfavorable conditions. Surf temps along Hatteras have been in the 52-56 degree range lately. The sound has been close to the same temps. Red Drum and Sea Mullet have been active in the surf. The offshore reports have been light this week.

The freshwater side is hot for many species. Perhaps the most popular in the Richmond area right now, is the Shad run in the James River. This is occurring in the Rappahannock River, inside Fredericksburg. Gold spoons have been the ticket on both rivers. This bite usually peaks around the 10th of April. The White Perch run is occurring as well. Most use cut bait, or live worms, and minnows, to target the Perch. As this action takes place the larger gamefish species become very active, particularly the Catfish, and Bass. Live and cut baitis great for the Cats, while spinnerbaits are hard to beat for the Bass. Tidal river Bass will be spawning soon, along with the catfish. The upper James is at an excellent level right now. Smallmouth anglers and Flathead Catfish anglers know this is some of the best fishing of the year. The lakes are producing excellent catches of Bass, Crappie, and Stripers. Some notable catches of Bass have been coming from Chesdin, Anna, and Smith Mountain. Many of the lakes have the Bass spawning, along with the Crappie. Many of the lakes have shoreline grass, such as willow grass, which provide great cover for the fish to spawn in. Stumps are a good object for the fish to spawn against as well, as they absorb heat. This goes for the Bass, as well as the Crappie. Those using live bait, are having great success for the Stripers at Anna.

April is upon us, and we can expect a great rise in catches inside the bay. Flounder catches will increase on the seaside of the Eastern Shore, particularly in the Wachapreague area. Angler typically drag minnow/squid combos across shallow flats that warm quickly. Another species that makes a big showing in April, is the Black Drum. These too, can be caught along the seaside of the Eastern Shore, along with the shallows of the lower bay, such as Fisherman's Island, near the CBBT. Fresh clam, and crab are often the baits of choice. Right now, there has been a rise in Tautog catches in the lower bay. These fish prefer hard structure, and can often be caught along side Sheepshead. They both prefer crab offerings. Artificial reefs, and the CBBT structures are great attractors for these fish. Speckled Trout fishing has picked up considerably inside the tributaries of the bay. Later in the afternoons has been better for places like Lynnhaven Inlet, and the Elizabeth River. Look for topwater lures to come into play very soon. Puppy Drum action has also increased in many of the same areas. Folks have been catching them along the surf of Va Beach also. Offshore anglers have been doing better since April started also. The charters are returning with catches of Black Fin, and Yellow Fin Tuna, Mahi, and Wahoo. Surf anglers along the Outer Banks are seeing an increase in Red Drum, Black Drum, Sea Mullet, and Blow Toads.

The freshwater side is hot for many species. Perhaps the most popular in the Richmond area right now, is the Shad run in the James River. This is occurring in the Rappahannock River, inside Fredericksburg. Gold spoons have been the ticket on both rivers. This bite usually peaks around the 10th of April. The White Perch run is occurring as well. Most use cut bait, or live worms, and minnows, to target the Perch. As this action takes place the larger gamefish species become very active, particularly the Catfish, and Bass. Live and cut baitis great for the Cats, while spinnerbaits are hard to beat for the Bass. Tidal river Bass will be spawning soon, along with the catfish. The upper James is at an excellent level right now. Smallmouth anglers and Flathead Catfish anglers know this is some of the best fishing of the year. The lakes are producing excellent catches of Bass, Crappie, and Stripers. Some notable catches of Bass have been coming from Chesdin, Anna, and Smith Mountain. Many of the lakes have the Bass spawning, along with the Crappie. Many of the lakes have shoreline grass, such as willow grass, which provide great cover for the fish to spawn in. Stumps are a good object for the fish to spawn against as well, as they absorb heat. This goes for the Bass, as well as the Crappie. Those using live bait, are having great success for the Stripers at Anna.

Things are slow overall, on the saltwater front. Puppy Drum are increasing in some of the inlets, but the bite has not been consistent. Little Creek recently gave up some good Pups. The Elizabeth river is producing Rockfish, Speckled Trout, and Puppy Drum. There are mixed reports of Tautog from the CBBT area. The bite is typically good in March for the bay Togs, and there are usually catches of Sheepshead in March. When crabs are available, we usually see catches of Tog, and Sheeps. April is near, so good fishing is close for the bay anglers. Togs are still available on ocean wrecks, when conditions allow. The Drum are increasing along the Hatteras and Nags Head surf, but the bite is not consistent. Some anglers are doing better at night for the Drum. The surf has been producing some Sea Mullet, and Blow Toads, along with some sharks. The sound has been yielding some Trout, and Sheepshead.

Fishing has been quite a bit more active on the freshwater side. The Shad run gets better each day, with increased catches coming from the city limits of Richmond, and Fredericksburg. The Rapp is still yielding catches of Yellow Perch, but reports have slowed down. This may be to the greater interest in the Shad runs. Crappie are being caught in good numbers and size from the Rapp, and James. White Perch catches have been minimal so far. The Catfish action has increased on many of the tidal rivers, with better reports coming from the Rapp. The Bass fishing has increased on the tidal rivers also. The James and Chick draw much of the attention, but the Potomac, and Rapp, should not be overlooked. 16 lbs was the winning weight from the Potomac over the weekend, which may have been the first of the season. Hopefully, the Potomac will return to producing big spring time bags of Bass. With the Shad runs thickening, the Bass action should greatly increase. It usually does. The upper James was stingy over the weekend to those that tried their luck. The river level is dropping, and the water is clear. Water temps at Beaumont Landing was 53 degrees Sunday afternoon. The lakes have been producing solid bags of Bass, Crappie, and Stripers. At Kerr, the better Crappie are still out in 12-17 ft of water. Reports of smaller Crappie are coming from brush piles. The Bass at Kerr has been hit or miss. 17 lbs was the winning weight on Saturday, and 19 lbs was the winning weight on Sunday. Many however, struggled to just catch a limit. Lake Gaston produced a 20 lb winning limit over the weekend, and Smith Mtn produced a 22 lb winning bag. This weekend should be better with the warm weather at mid week. Anna produced a 19 lb winning bag. The Stripers at Anna turned off a bit, but some of those using live bait, and covering lots of water, were able to find limits. A J Best of Mineral had a limit of Stripers while Crappie fishing with small jigs. The new moon is upon us, and Spring has started, so this weekend looks promising for big catches!

There's been a good bite for Tautogs on ocean structures lately, and is continuing still. Some folks are reporting catching good Togs from the CBBT structures. Crab is becoming easier to obtain now, raising the success rates of the Tog anglers. More and more Puppy Drum are being caught from within Lynnhaven Inlet, as the days are getting longer, and Monday was the official start of spring. Look for the Speckled Trout action to pick up with the longer days, and warming weather. There are quite a few Rockfish being caught from those fishing in the tidal rivers, but they must be released. Ocean temps are rising, but the catches along the surf are still slow. Of the reports coming from Hatteras, most are of Red Drum, and Sea Mullet.

Fishing has been quite a bit more active on the freshwater side. The Shad run gets better each day, with increased catches coming from the city limits of Richmond, and Fredericksburg. The Rapp is still yielding catches of Yellow Perch, but reports have slowed down. This may be to the greater interest in the Shad runs. Crappie are being caught in good numbers and size from the Rapp, and James. White Perch catches have been minimal so far. The Catfish action has increased on many of the tidal rivers, with better reports coming from the Rapp. The Bass fishing has increased on the tidal rivers also. The James and Chick draw much of the attention, but the Potomac, and Rapp, should not be overlooked. 16 lbs was the winning weight from the Potomac over the weekend, which may have been the first of the season. Hopefully, the Potomac will return to producing big spring time bags of Bass. With the Shad runs thickening, the Bass action should greatly increase. It usually does. The upper James was stingy over the weekend to those that tried their luck. The river level is dropping, and the water is clear. Water temps at Beaumont Landing was 53 degrees Sunday afternoon. The lakes have been producing solid bags of Bass, Crappie, and Stripers. At Kerr, the better Crappie are still out in 12-17 ft of water. Reports of smaller Crappie are coming from brush piles. The Bass at Kerr has been hit or miss. 17 lbs was the winning weight on Saturday, and 19 lbs was the winning weight on Sunday. Many however, struggled to just catch a limit. Lake Gaston produced a 20 lb winning limit over the weekend, and Smith Mtn produced a 22 lb winning bag. This weekend should be better with the warm weather at mid week. Anna produced a 19 lb winning bag. The Stripers at Anna turned off a bit, but some of those using live bait, and covering lots of water, were able to find limits. A J Best of Mineral had a limit of Stripers while Crappie fishing with small jigs. The new moon is upon us, and Spring has started, so this weekend looks promising for big catches!

The Elizabeth River is still the place to be for Speckled Trout right now. Speck anglers are also hooking up with Puppy Drum inside the river. The better Drum bite has been inside Lynnhaven Inlet lately though. Folks are doing better with bottom rigs and cut bait. Shrimp is good, as is crab if available. Look for the Tautog and Sheepshead bite to increase inside the bay any day now. Conditions have not been conducive over the last few days, so interest has been low. The artificial reefs and wrecks are the places to check out when conditions allow. This is also predicated on the availability of fresh crab, as it is the best bait for both these species. The weather has also slowed down the offshore interest. There was a few reports of Red Drum caught from the Hatteras surf over the weekend. March is typically when the big Drum begin to show up in the surf. The water temps have been in the low 50's.

The Shad bite has increased inside the tidal rivers, but the current cold front upon us, is slowing down the interest of anglers, and is having a negative impact on the Shad. The Bass however, have been more positive. Over the weekend, 24 lbs was the winning weight out of Hopewell, at the junction of the Appomattox and James Rivers. 17 lbs was the second place weight. Folks on the Rapp are enjoying a good bite for Bass, both Largemouth, and Smallmouth, Yellow Perch, Crappie, Catfish, and Shad. The Chickahominy River and Lake, are also good choices right now. The Mattaponi and Pamunkey Rivers are producing good catches of Yellow Perch, and Crappie. They too, are good places for Cats. The upper James is at a good level right now, and should remain stable for a while, allowing anglers to chase the Smallmouth above, and below the city limits. Kerr Lake is coming around for the Bass finally, as it took 21 lbs for the win of one team tournament, and 19 lbs for another. The majority of Bass are being caught shallow, in the larger creeks. The Crappie are coming around nicely, also. The mid to upper lake areas are usually better for the larger Crappie. There's been a surge of Freshwater Drum being caught from Kerr lately. With some of them being quite large. Lake Anna Bass are biting good also. Over the weekend, during the Big Bass Challenge. an 8 lber took the largest Bass prize. The Crappie are doing better as well, as the water temps have been ideal for the Crappie to move shallow. The Stripers are on the move as well, with the upper sections beginning to out produce other areas of the lake. Some have been doing good with the Walleye, and Saugeye at Lake Anna. They too, are being caught shallow, mostly on 3 inch swim baits.

A few folks are reporting Redfish from inside Lynnhaven, and Rudee Inlets. As the warm weather continues, look for many more reports from within the inlets. Speckled Trout anglers are doing well in the Elizabeth river. Some are using soft plastic swim baits, while others are still throwing Mir-o-lures. Elizabeth River anglers are also reporting Redfish. As we dive into March, look for the catches of Sheepshead, and Tautog to increase from within the bay. The CBBT, and the artificial reefs will attract these fish. Crab will be the best bait to use, but clam works well too. The offshore guys are finding Blue Fin, and Black Fin Tuna, with some of the Blue Fins being quite large. There hasn't been much action from the OBX surf, but this too, should be changing very soon.

Yellow Perch anglers are having good success inside the Mattaponi and Pamunkey Rivers. The Rapp is still producing Yellow Perch, as well as good catches of Crappie. The Pamunkey is a good producer of Crappie also. Catches of Shad are being made from the James, and Potomac Rivers. The reports from the Rapp have been a bit slow for the Shad. Another 2 weeks, and the Shad bite should be hitting on all the tidal rivers. The Shad bite usually peaks around the 10th of April on the James. The White perch peak is typically 3 days later. The Shad and White Perch runs ignite all the gamefish within the James, and other tributaries that the Perch migrate to. We typically see big increases of Bass catches especially. The Blue Cats are another species that become greatly excited. The level of the upper James came up about 2 feet a few days ago, but is falling currently. The Smallmouth had been biting well before the rise. Crappie are starting to bite much better in many places right now. Lake Chesdin, Swift Creek Reservoir, Chick Lake,Lake Anna, Kerr Lake, and many of the small lakes and local ponds of the area. Bass are biting well in many of these bodies of water, with the exception of Kerr, where the bite has been tough lately. But the lake has been down also, where as now, the lake is at normal pool. Over the weekend at Anna, 21lbs was the winning weight of a Bass tournament on Saturday, and 22 lbs was the winning weight on Sunday. Anglers are catching Bass on a wide range of lures, as the fish are feeding shallow. The Stripers are biting better also. 4 inch swim baits are working well, but live bait has been out producing the artificials. Swim baits are working well at Kerr, for the Stripers also. Smith Mountain Lake has been fishing well for Bass over the last few weeks. 22 lbs was the winning weight from a Bass tournament over the weekend. Both the Largemouth, and Smallmouth have been biting.

Some folks are catching Speckled Trout and Puppy Drum inside the Elizabeth River, and possibly inside Lynnhaven. It's still early for the Trout inside Lynnhaven, but the Puppy Drum are a possibility. Try fresh shrimp on a bottom rig for the Pups. Soft plastics and Mir-o-lures are working for the Trout on the Elizabeth. Sea Bass season went out quite strong, as anglers were pleased with the action of the special February season. Offshore anglers are finding Blue Fin Tuna, Black Fin Tuna, and Amberjack. Surf anglers along Hatteras are finding a few Red Drum, Sea Mullet, and Sharks. Look for the fishing to pick up for Sheepshead, and Tautog inside the bay, as March is usually a great month for these species. Getting crab may be the issue, but fresh clam works also.

Many of the tidal rivers are producing Yellow Perch right now. Best presentations are minnows or small jigs along the bottom. Silver buddies work well also. Crappie are making a nice showing on some of the tidal rivers, especially the Rapp. The Pamunkey River is another good destination for Crappie right now. Wood structure is a big attractor. Some are reporting early catches of Shad from the James.There are a lot of signs of an early spring, such as the Bradford Pear trees blooming already. When the Shad spawn is in full swing, all of the gamefish are fully active and aggressive. Over the weekend, 15 lbs was the winning weight from a Bass tournament on the James. Things are just getting started for the Bass, and they can be surprisingly shallow. The upper James has receded to normal levels, and anglers are reporting some good sized Smallmouth this week. Some of the lakes are fishing very well for Bass, such as Smith Mountain, where 5 fish limits of 25 lbs have been made. Both Largemouth and Smallmouth are being caught in good numbers. Anna is doing well also, as 20 lbs was the winning weight on Sunday, with the next 4 places weighing in 18 lbs. The Bass have been tough on Kerr Lake, where the level is down about 2 feet from normal. The temps in most of the lakes are ranging from 49-55 degrees. The Crappie have become much more aggressive on Kerr, with the warm weather upon us at the present time. Stripers on Anna and Kerr are much more active also. The mid sections of Kerr have been better, where as the mid to upper sections have been better on Anna.

We're starting to see catches of large Blue Fin Tuna in Carolina waters. The next 2 weeks should show much improvement for the Blue Fins. Black Fin Tuna are making a good showing also. The ocean wrecks continue to produce large Sea Bass, and good numbers of them. Sharks/Dogfish are plentiful while catching the Sea Bass however. Tautog are biting well also. Some are reporting catching them inside the bay, as well as the ocean. Speckled Trout are becoming more active in Virginia waters, especially in the Elizabeth River. They haven't really moved into the inlets as of yet, but if the warm weather stays, we should start to see catches inside Lynnhaven, and Rudee Inlet. Many are having the best success with Mir-o-lures for the Trout. There hasn't been many good reports from the surf of the Outer Banks, but that should change as March enters.

The upper James is still a few feet high, shutting things down until the water level gets down about 2 more feet. The tidal James is not as impacted from the heavy rains, due to the tide influence. Floating debris can be a hazard however, so be alert, and always wear a floatation device while running the boat. It took 15 lbs to win the last Bass tournament on the James, 2 weeks ago. We've had more warm weather since then, so thing could improve greatly this weekend. The warmer weather could spark some early activity from the Shad, which usually show up around the middle of March. Some of the Catfish anglers have already reported catching Rockfish from the tidal James, and Rappahannock, but they must be released immediately. The Cats are biting well on both the James and Rapp. Crappie have been biting well on the Rapp also, but that was before the river levels had risen. This was also the case for the Rapp Smallmouth. The Chick river Bass have been a bit slow, with the better bite coming in the afternoons on sunny days. Anglers are finding Yellow Perch on the Chick, Rapp, Mattaponi, and a few on the Pamunkey. The Pamunkey for some reason, is always late for it's peak on the Yellow Perch. The Stripers and Crappie had been biting well at Kerr Lake before the level there came up. The current level is 299.59'. The Stripers were active in the Eastland Creek, and Butchers Creek areas of the lake. The Crappie usually prefer the upper sections, such as Buffalo Creek, Bluestone Creek, and Grassy Creek. Anglers have been doing well at Anna, for the Stripers also. Another species that is doing well at Anna, is the Saugeye. AJ Best of Mineral went out this week at night, at returned with some quality Saugeye. The Walleye are biting now also. Lakes like Anna, Chesdin, Gaston, and Kerr, all have strong populations of Walleye. Smith Mountain has been yielding strong catches of Bass recently, both Smallmouth, and Largemouth. Some of the Bass have moved into pockets and coves, in many of the lakes. Some are reporting catches on lipless cranks, swimbaits, and jigs. Alabama rigs have been productive also.

The Sea Bass action is very strong on ocean wrecks, and should be experienced during the month long February season. Sea Bass are some of the best eating fish in the ocean. Another tasty fish worth targeting right now, is the Tautog. Many are taking advantage of this bite, as the boat runs aren't as lengthy as the Sea Bass runs. Some are staying inside the bay, while targeting them. For Trout, those fishing throughout the winter are mostly focusing their efforts on the Elizabeth River. This week could prove interesting, as the forecast is calling for warmer weather. A couple warm days in a row usually sparks a shallower movement of the Specks. Mir-o-lures are what many turn to during this time. Suspending jerkbaits are another good option. Folks are also catching Rockfish inside the Elizabeth.

Freshwater fishing continues to pick up. Before the rain came in on Sunday, the tidal rivers, and the upper James, were doing well. The Rapp had been providing opportunities for many species, such as Largemouth, Smallmouth, Crappie, and Catfish. The Rapp is known for it rapid rising, and getting muddy easily. Recent reports have the Rapp quite a bit stained. The upper James is high and stained, with it being about 4 feet higher than normal. The lower James is till a good bet foe Bass right now. The pits along the James tend to be less muddy, or stained when the main river is such.The pits will provide action for both Bass, and Crappie. The tidal Chick almost never gets muddy, and provides great opportunities for Bass, Crappie, Chain Pickerel, and Catfish. Right now some are finding Yellow Perch, which make a strong spawning run up the Chick. The Rapp also provides a strong bite for the Yellow Perch.The warm weather may have pushed the water temps into the low 50's on the tidal rivers. Chickahominy Lake is improving also. 20+ lbs was the winning weight of a Bass tournament over the weekend. 16 lbs was 2nd. A 4 lb+ Chain Pickerel was caught from Chick Lake over the weekend. Bass were once again, biting well on Anna Saturday, as 21 lbs was the winning weight from the Catt team trail tournament. 21 lbs was also the 2nd place weight. Anna Stripers are on the move as well. The mid to upper sections of the lake are where many are having success. Stripers are biting well for many at Kerr Lake also. Red clay points in the Butchers Creek area of Kerr, has been good for those casting swim baits towards the bank. The upper sections of Kerr are starting to yield large catches of Crappie. A 3 lber was recently weighed at a Clarksville area tackle shop. Multiple 3 lbers typically get caught during February, and March. Some are reporting good catches of Bass from Lake Gaston right now. A lipless crankbait is a good bait to be covering water with right now, especially if the water temps are in the low 50's.

Things are still a bit slow on the salt side, but they generally start picking up in Feb. as the days are getting longer. We are starting to see some catches of Blue Fin Tuna occurring for the offshore anglers. There hasn't been many reports from the surf and sound in the Nags Head/Hatteras area. Perhaps the most consistent bite is the ocean Sea Bass, and Tautog action. The season for Sea Bass lasts the month of February, with a special permit obtained from the VMRC. Tautog season is open till May 15. Rockfish anglers are still out there hanging big ones, but it is catch and release only. Die hard Speckled Trout anglers are finding some good sized Trout, but locations are hush hush. The Elizabeth River is where some prefer to focus their efforts. Mir-o-lures are more popular during these colder months.

A strong cold snap appeared last weekend, but a few winter anglers ventured out to try their luck. The tidal river anglers are seeing increasing catches of Yellow Perch, particularly on the Rapp, Potomac, and Chick. Many times, inside the larger creeks are better than the main river. Fishing along the bottom with minnows, and small jigs is the most popular, however, the silver buddy is an excellent lure to throw. The silver buddy is also good for Bass, and just about any species. There's another winter tournament on the James coming up this weekend, so keep an eye on the weights. Many are catching good sized Crappie along the Chick, James, and Rapp right now also. The upper James is in great shape for those chasing the Smallmouth. February is known as one of the best for trophy sized Smallmouth. Folks have been catching numbers of keeper Stripers at Kerr, and Anna, on both artificials and live bait. Warm days can sometimes push them very shallow. This can also be the case for Walleyes, which are plentiful inside Kerr, Gaston, Anna, and Chesdin. Anna Bass continue to bite well for some, especially on sunny, windy days. Which is often the case on clear water bodies of water.

Big Tautogs are being caught from ocean wrecks, many are in the double digit range. Sea Bass have been a by catch while fishing the wrecks for the Togs. But the Sea Bass season will be open the month of February for those obtaining a free permit from the VMRC . Last year, we did not have a Feb. season. This is excellent news! Die hard Rockfish anglers are still finding large fish inside the bay, but the action has slowed.This is a catch and release exercise The Speckled Trout action has slowed also, but warming trends push the fish shallower, and on the prowl for food, making them vulnerable for those seeking them. The Elizabeth River may be the best place to target them right now. Mir-o-lures are top producers, as are suspending jerkbaits, and 3 inch soft plastics on light jigs. There hasn't been many reports from the Hatteras surf. Only a few Sharks, and Red Drum.

Look for the Yellow Perch action to take off any day on some of the tidal rivers. The Rappahannock is one that usually produces large perch early. The Chick is another. The larger creeks on both these rivers are where many prefer to focus their efforts. Fish along the bottom with minnows, or small jigs for the larger fish. The Mattaponi and Pamunkey Rivers typically turn on later than the Rapp, and Chick. The Rapp has been turning out good catches of Crappie all winter, and should continue to improve. Bass fishing has improved a little on the Chick river and lake after a brief warming spell. Chick Lake tends to warm quickly, as it is very shallow. 15 lbs was the winning weight on the James River over the weekend. The upper James came up about a foot last weekend, but has returned to normal at the present time. The few people that have been out after the Smallmouth, have been rewarded with quality catches. Kerr Lake has been producing some good catches of Stripers since the water warmed up a bit. Red clay points is where the focus needs to be. The Kerr Crappie have been more active also. Some are being caught shallower, but many are still using brush in 15 foot depths, and deeper. The main lake fish tend to be a bit deeper. Folks at Anna are finding a few Stripers in the mid lake area, along with some in the dike 3 area. Bass fishing at Anna remains good, as 19.77 lbs was the winning weight for the final winter series out of Sturgeon Creek Marina. A very close,19.75 lbs was 2nd. The Walleye, and Saugeye bite typically increases during February, at Lake Anna.

There has not been a lot of anglers out and about in Va. waters. Those that have, are catching big Rockfish in the bay still. They are strictly catch and release. Live eels are still the best bet, and we're seeing a lot of fish over 40 inches long. Smaller Rockfish are being caught inside the Elizabeth River, mostly by those seeking Speckled Trout. There are a few Trout being caught inside the Elizabeth, just not a great deal of anglers chasing them.

The tidal rivers are starting to produce some of the late winter species that migrate up the rivers to spawn. Yellow Perch are a big attraction for many. The early action often takes place on the Rappahannock. Inside some of the larger creeks are where some concentrate their efforts. Fish along the bottom with small to med minnows, and small jigs. Silver buddies work well too. We've heard of a few from the Chick, but not as many as the Rapp. The Rapp, and Chick are producing good catches of Crappie, and should continue to do so. Blue Cats are another species many tend to target along the tidal rivers, such as the Rapp, and James. But they are in most, if not all the tidal rivers. The water temps are not terrible, so the Bass have been cooperating for some, along the Chick, and James. Nice sunny days can spark shallow movements for the fish to warm up, and eat, as the bait will visit the warm shallows also. The length of daylight hours is increasing, providing a little extra time to be on the water. The upper James has been at a good level, and some are enjoying some quality bites from Smallmouth Bass. Good baits for now are, large minnows, crankbaits, jerkbaits, and jigs. Lake Anna has been producing some impressive catches in the Winter Series out of Sturgeon Creek Marina. This past weekend, a 30 lb, 5 fish limit was the winning weight. Eric Johnson, and Nate Sullivan, both of Spotsylvania, were the winners. 19 lbs was the 2nd place weight. Water temps are in t